Comrade softly touched her shoulder. "Are you well?"

"Not exactly. I need time to think." She pushed her hair back. "I... You should go." She reached for the paper, but he stepped away, looking wary.

"I don't know what you plan to do with this information now that you've learned it," he said. "I'm afraid I can't trust you to hold onto the document if you are still unsure."

She frowned. I don't know if I can trust him either. What if he is planning on betraying Riolf as well? She shook herself a little. He's been with Riolf longer than I have. He's earned his trust. "I understand. Where can I find you later if I need you?"

He shook his head. "I'll be around. If you need me, I'll find you." He bowed politely. "Good day, Your Grace."

She watched him leave, then sat in silence for a long time. Finally, she stood and locked the compartment, leaving it bereft of the item it had harbored for stars knew how long. Once the books and chair were replaced, she stood in the center of the room, at a loss for what action to take next. She needed to think, but the library didn't feel right.

The children. I want to see the children. Even though she didn't want to speak with anyone and chance her behavior tipping them off that something was wrong, she desperately wanted to see Sage and Jill. It felt like ages since she had sent them off to play this morning.

I want to hug and kiss them. I want to feel like everything is all right. I want to forget this even happened. If only...

#

"Katarina!" Jill squealed when the woman entered their room. She had asked the staff regarding the children's whereabouts and found they had been playing in their room. When she entered, Jill jumped off the floor and ran over to embrace her. "Where have you been?"

"Oh... I've just been attending to some things. How have you children been? Are you keeping yourselves entertained?"

"Yes! Come see what we're playing!" Jill pulled her over to where Sage still sat on the floor.

He studied Kat's face. "Are you all right?"

She took her time settling her skirts as she sat. "I'm well. Why don't you show me what you've been doing?"

Jill picked up the cards they have been playing with, but Sage didn't move. "Katarina, please. Something is wrong. You look... upset. You looked like that when the duke was arrested."

She sighed a little, looking at her hands. "It's a bit mature for children, I'm afraid. Let's just say... well here. Pretend someone stole a cookie from the kitchens and is punished for it. Later, you find out that it hadn't been his fault at all—another had stolen the treat. But it's too late because the first child has already been punished. It's easiest to pretend you don't know who stole the cookie and say nothing, because no one will accuse you of lying and you won't ruin any friendships, but then you lose the justice. There are great consequences in whatever decision you make, some that you can't even fathom. How do you make that choice?" The last part was half whispered to herself, the burden of truth weighing her down so much that she almost forgot the children were there.

They were both quiet for a long moment. "Shouldn't telling the truth be the most important thing?" asked Jillian with great concern.

"But if the punishment has already been done, it's probably safer to leave it alone," said Sage. "If there are great consequences, I would bet the greater ones lie in trying to change what's already been done."

"Da lied a lot," Jill remarked quietly. She raised her dark eyes to Kat. "I don't ever want to be like him."

Erion would have agreed with her. Kat's eyes misted a little before she managed to smile at the girl. "I guess we have our answer then." We have to tell the kingdom the truth.

#

When she slipped into her bedroom that night Kat finally allowed herself to cry. There was too much happening at once; it was overwhelming. The bed was her comfort as she considered all that had occurred and what to do next.

She tried to fall asleep before Jayden came in for the night, but her mind was still whirling even long after the sun had set. When the door opened, her head automatically rose to see who was coming in. It was her husband of course, who smiled wearily at her. She cursed herself for letting him know she was awake. Out of everyone, he knew her best. If Sage was able to see she was troubled, Jayden would certainly be able to tell that something was wrong with her.

"Hello, darling," Jayden said softly as he took off her crown and set it on a table.

How could this man be so terrible? She wondered as he quietly dressed for bed. His golden hair was hanging just the way it always did, his movements were fluid like they always were, but everything seemed different now that she knew the truth.

She settled deeper into the bed, trying to sleep before he crawled in, but it was a trivial attempt. He wriggled in next to her, putting his arms around her body and kissing her on the neck. From the lack of speaking, Kat gathered he had a long day and was tired.

Thank the stars. I don't know what I would say to him. If I said anything at all I fear he would have found me out. He knows me better than anyone, second only to Erion. He knows my preferences, my weaknesses, my body language; he's been a very attentive husband. And I love him for that. A bolt of grief struck her heart. I really do love him. Jayden is everything to me. How can I just give him up? But how can I stay with him? I adore him above everyone else, but how can I love something that is an untruth? For all I know, his entire personality could be a charade. Why did it have to be me? Why did I have to fall in love with him? It's not as if I can stop feeling for him now. Does he even love me? Was that a lie as well? Tears gathered in her eyes, silently escaping down her face as she laid in the dark with a traitor at her back. A traitor she cared for more than anything in the world.

#

Jayden rolled out of bed in the morning at his usual time, but Kat kept her eyes closed. She still didn't have the courage to face him. She pretended to wake up briefly when he kissed her lips, whispering a goodbye as he slipped away to begin him morning duties. When they had first been married, she had been afraid they would never find time to spend together, but now she was grateful for his lack of time, even if it was an occupation he had stolen from another.

I need to see Riolf again. He needs to know I'm on his side. It had taken the entire night for her to decide on a course of action. She could allow Jayden to deceive everyone any longer. It was time for the truth to come out. Even if it means giving up Jayden.

She arranged herself for the day, then sent a servant out to tell her planner that she wasn't feeling well and would be unable to accomplish any tasks or meetings they had set for today. Her stomach was churning too heavily to stuff any food inside it, so she set off for the dungeons without breakfast.

The dungeon master escorted her to Riolf's cell and unlocked it, then left the key with her when sweetly requested. If there was one thing among the many she had learned from Jayden, it was that charm and kindness will get you far, as well as pretending you have someone else's best interests in mind.

"Katarina." Riolf bolted to his feet when he saw her. He seemed thin, so much smaller than when they had first met.

She swallowed. "I found it."

His eyes held cautious hope. "Where is it?"

"I gave it to Comrade. A story for another time. But... I believe you, Riolf."

He sighed in relief. "You believe me."

"Yes. I can't see any other option." She glanced away. "I... I am so sorry, Riolf. I wish..." She bowed her head, trying to hide her tears. "This is my fault. I told Jayden you were plotting against him. I should have come to you first, but I was afraid." She looked into his warm brown eyes. They seemed to pity her. "I love Jayden, I thought I was doing the right thing. I should have seen the signs. I'm a fool." She swiped away a stray tear.

"Please don't say that about yourself. We were all fools." He stepped closer. "Now we must find an opportunity to correct our folly. I need to get out of here, Katarina. I need to find my people and choose a plan of action."

She blinked rapidly, trying to dispel the remaining tears. "I know. Do you have a plan?"

Riolf shook his head. "I haven't been able to come up with anything. Planning escapes from prison isn't exactly my forte."

She looked over her shoulder. "The guard schedule is much lighter in the morning. No one tries to escape first thing in the day. Do you think you can make it out of here without being seen? If you go to the back exit, you likely won't be noticed. The guards are lazy—they put prisoners closer to the front entrance, so they don't have to walk through the long halls. Since there aren't as many prisoners here anymore I would wager there isn't anyone in the back nor any guards checking it. Do you know the way?"

He shook his head again, looking ashamed. "I'm afraid I'm not as familiar with my own prisons as I should be."

Kat gave him the directions, then stepped to the side so he could come out. She swallowed hard when his first foot left the cell. There was no turning back—she was committing treason.

"Where can I find you?" she asked. "I don't want to just help you escape. I want you to get your kingdom back. If there is any use I can be to you, I will do it."

He eyed her, then smiled slightly. "You are a brave woman, Katarina. I will be at Comrade's house to discuss plans with him and his father. We'll have to move quickly; it won't be long until I am discovered to be missing. Find me tonight if you can." He gave her the directions, then bowed slightly to her. "Until we meet again."

"Be careful," she said, locking eyes with him. He nodded once, then took off down the halls of the prison. Stars go with him, Kat thought. She secured the now empty cell with the key, then slowly walked to the dungeon master to return the item, thanking him for allowing her time with her old friend.

When she was out of the prisons, she walked quickly through the castle to find refuge in her room. I just committed treason. I assisted a prisoner in escaping. I could be put back in a cell for this. Would Jayden imprison me? Best not to think of it. Riolf said to meet him tonight. I'll have to wait a little while longer, just in case they've already discovered him missing. I'll also need to come up with an excuse to get me out of the castle.

She thought for a long while, finally settling on using the story that she was going out to look at the work Jayden had done in the city's center. She sent a servant to deliver a message to the children that she would be in the city for the rest of the day. She couldn't bear to face them right now, even if she only wanted to hold them tightly and pretend the world didn't exist.

Before leaving, she changed into clothes that were better suited for a long walk in the dwindling twilight heat and armed herself with two concealed daggers. She didn't know what part of the city Comrade's house fell in, she hadn't been in the area before, so there was no telling how safe it was.

She repeated Riolf's directions over and over again under her breath as she left the castle. A few guards gave her odd looks as she walked out of the wall surrounding the king's home, but no one stopped or followed her. She kept her head high and footsteps sure as she hurried away, as if she had a specific plan and not just wandering until she found the right street to start on.

She did stop by the city's center to see how the changes were coming along so she would have a convincing story when she returned to the castle. Jayden may be a liar and a traitor, but he really has done good for Driem, she thought as she looked up at the unfinished statue of King Andros. If only he wasn't the kind of monster to turn on his dearest friend.

Finally, when she tore herself away from the city's center, she found the house Riolf had described. Small, but with a lovely garden in the front. It was brown, just like all the other houses beside it, but the bottom of the door had been painted on by what was clearly a child's artwork.

Kat was hesitant to knock on the door. What if I have the wrong house? No, this is exactly how Riolf described it. Should I go around back? I don't know if they have a back door. Riolf didn't say anything about it. I suppose I enter through the front. I hope they're still here and haven't gone anywhere else. She gave the door a few solid knocks, heart pounding as she waited.

Footsteps.

The door opened, revealing a gray-haired woman, who looked at her curiously. "Hello?"

Do I have the wrong house? Who is this? I thought Comrade or Riolf would answer the door. I can't say anything about Riolf, especially if she doesn't know about him. Does she recognize me? Where is Riolf. "Uh... hello. I'm, um, looking for..." Someone? Comrade? A man?

"You're here." Her shoulders dropped in relief when Comrade came to the door. "We were expecting her, Mama." He smiled briefly at her, stepping back. "Come in."

"Thank you," Kat said, sidling into the home. It wasn't much, a common room with kitchen necessities, a dining table, as well as a sleeping pallet in one corner. There was a door on the righthand side that likely led to a bedroom, but that seemed to be the only other room in the house. Her eyes landed on Riolf, who stood from the table. She nodded at him.

"I don't think we've been properly introduced." Comrade dipped his head after shutting the door. "My name is actually Everett. This is my mother, Cathleen, and my father, Edrick."

She nodded to his family as well. "Greetings. I am Katarina."

"Katarina?" said Cathleen, a storm brewing on her brow. "Like the..."

"Queen, yes. But I'm not here to be the queen tonight."